Spain’s farmers, hit financially amid the e.coli outbreak in Europe, have been vocal in their criticism of Germany’s health authorities, which wrongly placed the blame for the contamination on Spanish cucumbers. Elsewhere on our pages this week, we shone a spotlight on the debate around GM, one of the most divisive topics in the industry. Meanwhile, Wal-Mart Stores, McCormick and Icelandic Group all hailed the benefit of separate transactions to their businesses, although Spain’s Ebro Foods was left to reflect on its failed bid to buy Australian rice maker SunRice.
“The Spanish horticultural sector is the victim of a hasty accusation” – Lorenzo Ramos, general secretary of Spanish farmers’ union the UPA, hits out at Germany’s mistaken accusation that cucumbers from Spain were the source of the e.coli outbreak that has hit Europe.
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“We look forward to creating new jobs in South Africa, support for the development of South African exports, and providing previously underserved customers and communities with better prices and increased access to the products they want and need. All of this is consistent with the benefits we’ve delivered to markets around the world” – Doug McMillon, CEO of Wal-Mart’s international operations, champions the benefits of the US retailer’s acquisition of 51% of local retailer Massmart.
“The people who give out statements on GM crops from these [campaign] organisations are not qualified, informed or scientific” – Professor Anthony Trewavas of the Institute of Molecular plant Science at Edinburgh University says the science behind anti-GM campaigners’ claims is not sufficiently robust.
“I think it’s about being pro-science but asking what science do we want, what are the broader implications of these choices, and who is going to be in control of science” – Helen Wallace, director of GeneWatch UK, rejects the characterisation of GM-scepticism as unscientific or anti-science.
“Several critical areas I will be looking at closely are the development of regional trade prospects, innovation streams and the company’s relationships in supply chain management” – Chris Delaney, the former Campbell Soup Co. executive set to become Goodman Fielder’s CEO, outlines his priorities for the Australian food maker.
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By GlobalData“The operation was complex from the start because the special majority was a difficult target to meet” – Ebro Foods chairman and CEO Antonio Hernández Callejas reflects on the Spanish food maker’s failure to win over SunRice’s investors with its takeover bid for the Australian company.
“The sale of our French and German platform is an important strategic step for Icelandic Group towards sharpening its operational focus. This transaction is a key milestone for the company. It is now well positioned to lower its debts and strengthen existing operations” – Icelandic Group CEO Brynjólfur Bjarnason explains how the sale of the seafood’s operations in France and Germany will help the business.
“This joint venture is an important step in our strategy to accelerate growth in the Asia/Pacific region” – McCormick chairman, president and CEO Alan McCormick hails the spice maker’s new Indian venture with local firm Kohinoor Foods.
“I think what we’ll see now more and more in Russian retail is a lot more brands focusing less on the short term, tactical sales promotion and you’ll see more branding” – Shannon Callum, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Russia, which has helped devise Dixy Group’s new marketing campaign, believes the country’s retailers will start to emphasise what their brand stands for.
“M&S remains an important customer and RF Brookes remains a significant supplier to M&S for other food lines” – a Premier Foods plc spokesperson insists the relationship between the UK’s largest food maker and Marks and Spencer is sound after the news that the loss of a contract with the retailer could hit jobs.
